Stripe vs PayPal: Top features, pricing (and more!) compared

Stripe and PayPal are both payment processing platforms that have a lot to offer. For managing payments or donations, both services are excellent options. But that doesn’t mean that both of them will be a perfect fit for your needs.

In this post, you’ll find a breakdown of platform pricing, features, and much more. Read on to discover which one is most suitable for you.

If you need to receive international payments in different currencies, then try Wise Business. With the Wise Business account, you can receive & hold several currencies, and convert them at the mid-market exchange rate (the one you see on Google).

Table of contents
Stripe vs PayPal: What’s the main difference? Stripe vs PayPal: Top factors to compare Is Stripe better than PayPal? Save money on international transfers with Wise

Stripe vs PayPal: What’s the main difference?

Stripe and PayPal share a lot in common, but they target different customers. While PayPal is easy to use for small businesses, Stripe may have benefits for larger companies.

A key difference is that Stripe has a host of features that make it an excellent pick for developers. Its powerful, customizable developer tools allow the user to create complex platforms.

However, when looking at Stripe vs PayPal, it’s important to look at the key features of both.

What is PayPal and who can use it?

PayPal is a well known online payment service. PayPal enables secure online payments with personal and business accounts. You can read the full guide to what PayPal is, and how it works to find out more.

What is Stripe and who can use it?

Stripe is also a payment processing platform that lets people send and accept money online. It offers a wide range of developer tools and APIs. Stripe is great for online businesses who can make the most of the developer tools available.

You can read the guide to what Stripe is to find out more about the top features in detail.

Stripe vs PayPal: Top factors to compare

If you’re unsure about which option would be best for your business, it’s worth evaluating the services based on the following factors.

Stripe vs PayPal fees

Both Stripe and PayPal offer competitive fees.

With PayPal, you can qualify for lower rates if you reach a specific monthly sales volume. The platform also offers discounted transaction rates for confirmed 501 charities and affordable rates for other nonprofits.¹

Stripe offers a discounted processing fee for nonprofits if 80% or more of donations come through the service.²

Understanding the costs associated with each account is key. With a glance at this table, you can compare Stripe³ and PayPal’s⁴ costs across the board.

To delve deeper into the fees, you can also read a detailed guide to Stripe fees.

Service	Stripe	PayPal
Transaction fees (US)	2.9% + $0.30	2.99%
Monthly fee/ set-up cost	No monthly fees or set up costs	Fees vary/no setup cost
ACH transaction fee	0.8% up to $5	N/A, only available with Braintree integration
Chargeback fee (USD)	$15.00 fee regardless of the outcome of the dispute	Fixed fee according to currency ($20 in the US)
Micropayments (purchases < 10%)	2.9% + $0.30	4.99% + fixed currency fee
Online invoicing	0.4% per paid invoice	No subscription fee for sending invoices online. Pay only when you get paid.
International payment fees	+1.5 % for international cards and an extra 1% for currency conversion	+ 1.50% per transaction, with a fixed fee per currency, 4.00% currency conversion, or such other amount as may be disclosed to you during the transaction

💡 If your business receives payments in several currencies, Wise Business has a solution. You can easily manage and receive multiple currencies with local account details. Simply register for free in the US and pay a one-time fee to get local account details. You can also make payments with the mid-market exchange rate.

Availability

With PayPal, you can trade between 25 currencies, and the service is available in more than 200 countries.

Stripe has fewer countries available, at 39, but it supports an impressive 135 currencies.

While Stripe is available in fewer countries, you can connect your US-based business with Stripe Atlas⁵. If you do so, you’ll be able to receive payments through the service wherever your company does business.

Stripe	PayPal
Countries: 39	Countries: 200+
Currencies: 135	Currencies: 25

Ease of use

If you value ease of use, neither Stripe nor PayPal will let you down. With both services, you can expect a clean user interface that is easy to navigate.

However, it’s worth noting that Stripe can be more tricky to set up due to the extra customization options. So if you want to go the extra mile and make the most of the developer tools, there’ll be a slightly more involved process.

Speed

PayPal is the faster of the two services when it comes to accessing funds. With PayPal Standard, you will immediately have access to your funds. For transferring money to your bank account, there’s an average waiting period of 2-4 days, though.

With Stripe, you will have to wait anywhere from an hour up to two days to access the funds.

Stripe	PayPal
Up to 2 days	Immediate (2-4 days if transferring to a bank account)

Customer service

It’s a reasonably even playing field between the two services when it comes to customer service.

PayPal has several methods for customers to get in touch. These include an email address, a live chat feature, and a phone line you can call. Stripe has similar customer support features and recently added 24/7 access for both chat and phone line support.

As such, Stripe may just have the edge in customer service, though it’s hard to say definitively.

Stripe	PayPal
24/7 phone and chat support, social media, help center, email	Email, social media, community forum, help center, live chat, and phone support

Security

Both Stripe and PayPal are PCI compliant. This means that they both meet the high standards set by the Payment Card Industry.

Data portability

If data portability is a priority for you, Stripe is the best option.

With Stripe, you can securely transfer all of your credit card data to another payment processor.

Unfortunately, PayPal doesn't allow for the same data portability, so if you choose this service, make sure it’s for the foreseeable future.

Payment handling

If you want to make payments directly on your website, Stripe is the best choice as it lets you do so. With PayPal, you will first need to leave the page to sign in to your account.

In-store sales

With both services, you can use a card reader for in-store sales.

Stripe offers EMV-level 1, 2, and 3 pre-certified card readers with end-to-end encryption. The card readers accept contactless payments using services like Apple Pay and Google Pay. You will need to pay for the card reader, though.

PayPal offers its customers a free card reader, though if you need an extra one, you will have to pay.

Is Stripe better than PayPal?

Now it’s time for the big question: Stripe or PayPal?

Well, given the many nuances of payment processing services, the answer is it depends. While that may be an unsatisfactory answer, the best option for you depends on your business’s needs.

For instance, if you need to make ACH transactions, you should give Stripe a go. PayPal is less accessible in this regard since you will have to do ACH transactions through Braintree.

Another reason to go for Stripe is if you like the idea of having many customization options. Complex coding tools help to create a unique business experience. If you have experience with coding, or have an in-house development team, Stripe could be a good choice for you.

There’s a reason PayPal reigns supreme in the number of users, though, and it’s because it’s well known and easy to use. If you own a small or medium-sized business, PayPal can be easy to process payments with.

Stripe vs PayPal: Pros of using Stripe

Stripe has some pros, especially if you are looking for the following:

• A variety of coding and customization options
• A way to manage payments for large businesses
• A simple way to make ACH payments

Stripe can be great for larger businesses who can make the most of the coding and customization features with an in-house developer team.

💰 Money-saving tip: If you receive payments in a currency that is the same as your bank account’s, Stripe does not perform currency conversion.⁶ With Wise, you can open one Wise account with multiple currencies and link it to Stripe to receive international payments!

Stripe vs PayPal: Pros of using PayPal

PayPal is a popular service, and these are the reasons why:

• You can use it for a small or medium-sized business
• You can use it even if you’re new to e-commerce
• You can make the most of the free in-store card reader

PayPal can be good for smaller businesses who are looking for a simple and well-known solution.

Save on international transfers with Wise Business

While the two services have their differences, they share one feature in common: international transaction fees. These fees can eat into your cash flow when sending or receiving overseas payments.

If saving money on international transfers is important for your business, then try the Wise Business account. Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The fees are low and transparent, and you will always get the mid-market exchange rate.

Find out more about Wise

The Wise Business account enables you to pay employees and invoices and receive overseas payments without high recipient or conversion fees. But don’t just take our word for it, 300k+ businesses of all shapes and sizes already use Wise Business each quarter.

You can also connect Stripe to your Wise Business account to receive international payments with ease.

Register online &
join Wise Business today

About the author:
	Panna is an expert in business finance topics for the US, covering topics from invoicing to international expansion. She creates high-quality reviews on business finance tools and products with the aim to help businesses save time and make informed decisions. You can read more useful business articles on her author profile.

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Sources

1. PayPal nonprofit rates
2. Stripe nonprofit rates
3. Stripe fees
4. PayPal fees
5. Stripe Atlas
6. Stripe - receiving payments

All sources checked March 2024